Business, Man: Money Management Tips We Learned from Jay-Z’s 4:44

Save Money.

Blue Ivy asking “Daddy, what’s a will?” are the first words uttered on Legacy, the closing track to JAY-Z 4:44 album.

It sums up a lot of what the album speaks on; educating the next generation and understanding the details of making your money work for you. The album may only be 36 minutes long, but Jay gives us decades worth of advice when it comes to money management. Instead of copping a new pair of sneakers this weekend, buy some stock in your favorite sneaker brand instead.

Courtesy of CASSIUS here are a few money management tips from 4:44.

“Daddy, what’s a will?”

Financial literacy starts when your kids are young, and JAY takes that quiet literally. On Legacy, Blue Ivy can be heard asking her father what a will is. It’s then when we realize that talking about death is a sore subject, but figuring out how to divvying a loved ones belongings after they’ve passed is even worse. Accompanied by enough life insurance to cover funeral costs, family feuds can easily be squashed with a little preparation.

“Take your drug money and buy the neighborhood. That’s how you rinse it.”

Renting may be easy and less of a responsibility, but owning property pays off in the long run. In The Story Of OJ, Jay tells drug dealers to spend their mini fortunes on property in an attempt to clean up the dirty money. And the great thing about property is that you can’t make any more of it—so value will always go up. Things like property, watches and art appreciate in value.

“You wanna know what’s more important than throwin’ away money at a strip club? Credit”

JAY preaches just how stupid it is to throw your money at a strip club. It’s a fleeting feeling and you could be doing something more proactive with your money. Like perhaps fixing your credit score and paying off some debt or credit card bills that you’ve racked up. And building up your credit will only help when you try to cop a house or car in the future.

“What’s better than one billionaire? Two. ‘Specially if they’re from the same hue as you.”

Throughout “Family Feud” offers bars about respecting the new school and supporting black-owned businesses. “What’s better than one billionaire? Two. Especially if they’re from the same hue as you,” he spits. In the final verse he raps about supporting fellow rapper-turned-businessman Sean Combs. The narrative of Black businesses succeeding can only be changed if we buy their products. Why would Hov drink Belvedere when Puff is a brand ambassador of CÎROC?